Elect fire in navigation communication in IMC. Continued approach using hand held.

Attributes
ACN	255372
Time
Date	199310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sgj
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : jax tower : jfk
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	255372
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Descending to 5000 ft, became distracted by avionics flickering (intermittent operations) descended to 4300 ft. During climb back to 5000 ft declared an emergency for electrical fire in avionics panel and shut down electrical system. Advised on hand-held. Tried electrical system. Alternator off line and still smoke from navigation/communication. Continued with hand-held, and LORAN and transponder. Completed visual approach, cancelled IFR. Had electrical harness repaired.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ELECT FIRE IN NAV COM IN IMC. CONTINUED APCH USING HAND HELD.

Narrative: DSNDING TO 5000 FT, BECAME DISTRACTED BY AVIONICS FLICKERING (INTERMITTENT OPS) DSNDED TO 4300 FT. DURING CLB BACK TO 5000 FT DECLARED AN EMER FOR ELECTRICAL FIRE IN AVIONICS PANEL AND SHUT DOWN ELECTRICAL SYS. ADVISED ON HAND-HELD. TRIED ELECTRICAL SYS. ALTERNATOR OFF LINE AND STILL SMOKE FROM NAV/COM. CONTINUED WITH HAND-HELD, AND LORAN AND XPONDER. COMPLETED VISUAL APCH, CANCELLED IFR. HAD ELECTRICAL HARNESS REPAIRED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.